THE NEW OFFENSIVE.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 August 1916, Page 7

THE NEW OFFENSIVE.

MAGNIFICENT RUSSIANS. GERMAN PLANS HAVE AGAIN MISCARRIED. London. June 10. Present events suggest that the military expectations of a decisive campaign during the summer of 1910, which would settle the result of the war without perhaps finally ending it, is rather near the truth. At the present moment the fighting on all the fronts has reached a pitch of desperate intensity which has never before been equalled. Apparently the German hope was to deliver early in the spring so crushing a blow on the Western front that France would be really beaten to her knees, and that even though this failed to secure an inconclusive peace, it would leave no possibility of an effective offensive by the Allies in that theatre of the war. Having thus once more imposed a strict defensive role on the French and British armies in the West, Germany planned to renew her great drive against the Russians in the East, and by so doing not only to relieve the hard-pressed j 'lurk and the apprehensive Austrian, but to double the chances of bringing the Entente Allies into a peace conference. All tiiese plans have miscarried. The splendid resistance the French have offered to the smashing blows delivered by the Germans at Verdun day after day for months on end, has saved ihe situation. Tlie Russians have once more displayed a military skill and energy which have been as opportune as they were efr'cient. Even admitting that the Austrians are not the soldiers that the Germans are, and that the trench lines in the East are not so formidable and close-knit as the field fortifications in tile West, the Russian achievements are magnificent. The Russian armies are surging with incredible swiftness right back over the ground they lost in the fall of Warsaw. At this time the impression is that the Russians have come to stay. In numbers and equipment and munitions, the Russian armies of to-day are infinitely better off than they were during the earlier stages of the war. Russia has struck staggering blows within the last few weeks both against Austria and against 'Turkey. It remains to be seen whether Hindenburg in the North can ceate an effective diversion. The presumption is that it is impossible unless he is heavily reinforced from the Western front. THE PROCESS OI EXHAUSTION. And it is impossible for the Germans, who are already pressing Belgians and Poles into their battalions, to send any men to strengthen Hindenburg in the East without so weakening their lines in the 'West that they will be courting disaster. In other words, without being unduly optimistic, we seem at last to be approaching the moment of Germany's military exhaustion. They have sacrificed nearer a half than a quarter of a million of men in the fruitless task of capturing Verdun. In several months they have advanced only a lew miles against that salient fortress ring, and every yard of ground has been purchased at a bitter sacrifice. They are now nearer to the fortress than ever before, but the most formidable positions of all still confront them.

The question is will the Germans still be able to press ahead, regardless of time and cost, against the French positions round Verdun ? Tt seems probable, that, if the French can hold on for only another week or two, without yielding ground, the Hermans will be forced to admit that they have lost the battle for Verdun, and that they have paid the full price without, obaining any of the advantages. There is some doubt about the positions nfc Ypres. At first it was thought, when the Germans concentrated their artillery and launched their massed attacks, that another bid was being made for Calais. The Canadians suffered heavily in that onslaught. Evidently the Germans are more fortunate than ourselves in being able to prepare and launch a sudden blow like this with the full effect of surprise, and without om men knowing all about the operations well in advance. The capture of the two distinguished Canadian Generals, and the temporary loss of the front lines and supporting tranches must be attributed to this cause. But the valor with which the Canadians fought, often with broken rifle-butts and fists, could not have been surpassed. And the brilliant way in which they have recaptured the lost ground speaks for itself. In this instance it is gratifying to find that the British artillery proved itself more formidable even than the German. But it is quite clear, while we have been straining every nerve to overtake the German superiority in the mechanism of var, the Germans have been straining every nerve to surpass their own res'.urccs. Some of their new quick-firing heavy guns are very effective weapons, t lifortunately the affair at Ypres has cost the Canadians many gallant lives. But there is good reason to believe that the Germans have lost stilt more heavily. The Australians have also been distinguishing themselves. They have carried out some sucessful raids on the Germau 'reaches opposite to them in a way which suggests that they are rapidly settling down to the trench conditions of the fighting on the Western front. Looking at the general situation of the war as a whole, the moment now really seems to be closer at hand when, under the stress of a general offensive on all the frcnts, vigorously and skilfully conducted, the capacity of the Central Empires to withstand anything like prolonged pressure all along the line might he prudently tested. The moment of collapse will undoubtedly come, if the Allies stick at it manfully and with determination. and it will hum suddenly.